Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-11-24

occupants at one blow; forgetting that
the day of miracles is over, and that
God moves IN a mysterious way. And
there were other simple folk, to whom
troubles come thick and fast, who felt
themselves aggrieved that life went so
smoothly for the owners of Vanedene
What was the good they asked of being
faithful and bel ewing. II the green bay
tree-was permitted TO flourish under
their very eyesp 1t is enough to dis
| hearten anyone.
But after awhile there came q change!
1t crept upon that portion of tie world
which called the Vancs friends very
gradually. Mrs. Vnne's name was
Withdrawn from prominence in sever
al of the societies TO which she acted as
president. secretary. one of the execu-
tive comm ttee. and the like. and
she sank to the comparative obscurity
Of a subscrib ne member only. She
did not at present feel equal to the du-
ties, she explained.
People wondered little. and at
length the real meaning oozed out.
There was at last prospect of an heir
com ng TO the Red House. Then PEG.
Pile wondered no longer. but most of
them laughed instead and asked one
anol her what manner of ch Id il would
he.
II should think" one lady laughed.
1t twill be born with full allowance
of teeth and be able to play half dozen
instruments and speak several Ian
guages fluently."
But it wasn't. II came into the
world and squalcd just like anr 9TH
er baby. 1t gurgled over its food and
crumpled up its pink dimpled hands.
just like any other. 1t was very
pretty child, even ut that early stage of
its career. with big blue ewes and soft
silken hair as smooth Us silk. EuStace
Vane went and stood beside his wife
bed with his hands in his pockets, re-
gard NJ them both through his oye-
glass, finally telling her that they made
as charm ng picture. by Jove ns he
ever remembered to have seen. fhen
he bent down and Kissed her, touching
the Oh id with his lips. rs if it were an
afterthought And after that he went
down to his club and announced, when
he was congratulated. that Ii $ small
son WAS very queer little beggar. a
very queer little heggar indeed.
Strangely enough, neither he nor
any one else noticed the change which
had come over his wife. She d d not
recover very fast and the affair had
pulled her down far more than any
one would have thought possible for a
woman who could tramp her 20 miles
II day and be fairly fresh ut the end of
it. For many days she lay in her bed
or on her sofa strangely silent. rest no
her cheek against the child's blonde
head. From her window she could see
the old church and tho churcIyard
where her father slept; the church
where, in the days of her childhood.
she had prayed. and sung Sunday after
Sunday. as she never did now. She
could see the pure white cross which
marked her fathers resting place. and
she knew by heart the words:
His works do follow him."
Eight years he had been dead; she
had not thought so much of him in all
those eight wears rs she had done since
her baby came, How proud he would
have been 10 see his grandson-how
delighted to have added another to the
long list Of Vaues in the baptismaI
register.
"Eustace. she said suddenly one
day, when the child was more than II
month Old, ii should Ike to have a
dance for the christening"
For the WHAT, my dear?" asked
Euslace W tn mild establishment.
"The christening.
"The child is already named; |
registered him rs William Lotus Vane.
Did no. tell youP"
Yes. dear-but the CEREMONY
she began.
you don't mean to say" he inter-
ruptod. pointing to the church. THAT
you want to take the poor child over
there and wafer him rs if he were a
young vegetable and YOU wanted him
to grow The quicker ? Or, perhaps.
you intend going through the cerc-
mony of thanksg wing aIso?'
''Oh. mol forgot" blushing scarlet
at his sarcasm. but l should like
dance, Eustace."
Dearest. you shall have dozen
dances, if they will please you he an
swered kissing her. Don't let these
morbid fame es get hold of you-you
know you are not really strong yet"
So the child WAS not christened and
Euslace Vane's sarcasm hav ny killed
the learning in the mothers heart. she
went in for her advanced ideas more
warmly than ever, and the green bay
Tree hourished crtenGr aud greener
Truly. it did seem hard upon the NJ
pie folk who had so many troubles.
Upon one point every one was
agreed. and that was that when the
days of bnbyhood were passed. the
little heir OF Vanodenc began to prove
himself a wonder after all. Al five
years old he knew rs much as child
of ten, or of twice ten for the matter OF
that; he could repeat poetry in three or
four languages by The page; could play
violin and piano; had written IL story,
printed 10y his parents, who were wiser
than their fathers had been, and
circulated among ilrer friends; in
short. lie was an infant prod gy. a fine.
handsome. healthy intelligent child.
forced far beyond h years and bey ond
his strength.
No simple toys were his by day-no
simple prayers he said b.. night; in
deed not one night out OF seven d d he
have the sound healthy sleep clrldhood
ought 10 have. No, his TOYS were